Protesters shooed away from Islamic center in Saylorsburg, hold rally in field

Sunday

Jul 14, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 14, 2013 at 9:19 AM

Protesters first streaming into Saylorsburg Saturday found they had no where to stand to voice their anger.

JENNA EBERSOLE

Protesters first streaming into Saylorsburg Saturday found they had no where to stand to voice their anger.

State troopers directed early arrivals away from the area in front of the Islamic center where controversial Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen has lived for more than a decade along Mount Eaton Road, which has no shoulder. Several nearby neighbors blocked their driveways with caution tape and cones.

Eventually, about 130 protesters made their way down the road, past Mount Eaton Church and to a field belonging to Tricia Bauer by the T&R Farm Shack.

Bauer said she was pulling weeds earlier Saturday when the group came by to ask if they could use her property, about two miles from the Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center.

She directed about 50 cars and buses as they arrived, collecting $10 per vehicle to park in her field and assemble there. State troopers directed traffic into the field and were stationed along the roadway to keep traffic moving.

"This is America," Bauer said of the group's right to protest, though she personally had no opinion on the issue.

Protesters came from across the U.S. to draw attention to Gülen's residence in Saylorsburg. He is a polarizing figure in Turkey whom critics accuse of trying to turn the country into an Islamic regime from a secular democracy.

Men, women and children waved Turkish flags, often emblazoned with the face of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the republic and secular hero in Turkey. Some also held American flags and posters with slogans in English and Turkish.

"USA wake up, sharia is here," read one, warning of sharia law.

"Stop stealing our taxes for your jihad," another said.

Birgul Oncu, of New York, said she hoped the protest would make Americans more aware of who Gülen is and his influence in Turkey and in America through charter schools affiliated with the Gülen movement.

"We just don't understand why the American people are letting him stay here," she said.

Protesters said they were in favor of a secular Turkey, and in solidarity with protesters on the streets of major Turkish cities over the last few weeks who have criticized Turkey's leader for what they see as an Islamization of the country.

Huriye Altan, of Long Island, said she is an American citizen of Turkish origin whose husband fought in the Vietnam War. She said the protesters were not anti-American, but fighting what she said is Gülen's misuse of tax dollars from charter schools connected with the Gülen movement.

Mary Addi, who is not of Turkish origin, spoke to protesters as well. She said she came from Cleveland and was fired from a charter school connected to Gülen five years ago. Since then, she has worked with authorities to prove Gülen's misuse of taxpayer dollars.

"Why hasn't the United States government done something about it?" she asked.

Ersin Bayraktar said he came with family from New York City and is an American citizen.

"He is trying to control the politics and the future of Turkey," he said. "And he is using our country, the United States, as his base."

Armagan Yilmaz, who organized the protest, led Turkish chants and held up posters of young people he said had been killed by forces under Gülen's control.

"We want democracy in Turkey and in America," Yilmaz said as another protester translated.

Yilmaz led a moment of silence for people killed and the singing of the Turkish national anthem before the parade of vehicles left the field and drove slowly along the roadway in front of the center as passengers chanted and waved flags.

Representatives for the center said in a statement that Gülen was aware of the protests but "saddened by the attempts to misrepresent his views."

"He believes that the richness of our communities will be defined by our continued commitment to embracing pluralism and a society that respects differences," the statement said, also speaking in support of the right to protest.

Edward Hoke, commanding officer of state police Troop N, stood by the field where the protesting continued. He said he appreciated the protesters peaceful cooperation. One protester came to thank him for his efforts, explaining that police in Turkey are violent.

"Their safety is paramount to us to make sure no one gets run over," he said, adding that troopers were working to keep traffic moving.